were happy to escape from it by commencing our journey.
Nov. 28.—We had a very long day before us, as it was our intention to sleep at the Hacienda of Guădălūpĕ Cārnĭcērŏ, eleven leagues from Cătōrcĕ, and eighteen from El Vĕnādŏ. Fortunately the road was good, particularly the latter part, which leads from the Real de Chārcăs, (a town with about 5,000 inhabitants, six leagues from El Vĕnādŏ,) to the Hacienda, where we arrived before dusk. On the way we passed the Governor's Hacienda of Los Chārcos, surrounded by enclosures six or seven leagues in extent, walled in for "Ganado menor," sheep and goats;) but the country was dreary and deserted, without water or cultivation. At Guădălūpĕ, maize cost thirty reals the fanega, (seven dollars and a half the Carga;) and we paid two dollars for permission to water our animals at the "Tanque" belonging to the estate.
Nov. 29.—From Guădălūpĕ to Cătōrcĕ, eleven leagues. During the whole of the way we left the metalliferous mountains of Cătōrcĕ, (running nearly due North and South,) to the East, and drew nearer by degrees to the Cañada, or opening, through which we were to ascend to the town. The name, (La Cañada de los Catorce,) is supposed to have been derived from the death of fourteen Spanish soldiers, who are said to have been killed there by a tribe of Indios Bravos, (unsubdued Indians,) by whom the
